Wade out, LeBron ill, Chalmers back for Heat

November 18, 2012|By Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun Sentinel

PHOENIX — The Miami Heat were without guard Dwyane Wade on Saturday night for the second time in as many games due to sprained left foot.

The Heat, however, had Mario Chalmers back in the lineup for Saturday night's 97-88 victory over the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center, as well as LeBron James, who missed the morning shootaround with flu-like symptoms.

Chalmers returned after he was sidelined seven minutes into Thursday's victory over the Denver Nuggets with a triceps injury. He was limited to 31 minutes Saturday by foul trouble, closing with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, three assists and three steals.

Chalmers said the injury is muscular and not sensitive to contact.

Wade missed the start of this six-game trip due to a virus and then sat out Thursday's fifth stop with a sprained left foot. He worked out in the Suns' weight room while the Heat were on the floor Saturday morning.

James posted on Twitter at 1:45 a.m. (EDT) Saturday that he had gotten sick, posting: "Hate feeling like this. The bug is going around #headached #stomachdancing #justnotmyself"

He attached a photo of himself bundled up in a hoodie, wearing a Heat baseball cap.

"You deal with your circumstances." Spoelstra said of the lineup uncertainty, with the Heat returning to South Florida immediately after Saturday's game, followed by a three-day break before returning to the court Wednesday at AmericanAirlines Arena against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks.

James played 41 minutes Saturday, closing with 21 points on 8-of-20 shooting, seven rebounds and three assists.